Caribbean Beach Holidays

Jamaica

Jamaicans know how to live. Visit Jamaica and you'll see for yourself: this is
a big, beautiful tropical island full of the most incredible scenery and
alluring beaches, with a great big smile on its collective face. Think of soft
white sand, bright turquoise seas, the sound of a steel band, abundant tropical
fruits and sunshine, and you've got it about right. It will assault your
senses.

In Montego Bay, Jamaica pulls no punches. This most popular of holiday
destinations has it all and pulls in the crowds for the reggae beat of its
nightlife, its laid-back sense of fun and its spicy jerk cooking. This is the
second largest city in Jamaica, and the surrounding coast has plenty of fine
beaches. The famous Doctors Cave is a broad, pure white sandy beach – just the
place to relax and recoup your energy after the night before; or there's
Cornwall Beach — more upbeat and lively, where you go to party, play
volleyball or indulge in some water sports.

If you can get away from the beach, Jamaica's mountainous interior is well
worth exploring, and you can catch that reggae beat with a visit to Bob
Marley's birthplace in Kingston and then visit his childhood home of Nine Mile
in the mountains of St Ann.

The size of the island makes seeing all of it a difficult challenge for one
holiday, but Negril Beach at the far western tip of the island is one not to
miss. This is the ultimate tropical paradise, a seven mile-long beach of white
sand backed by palm trees and forest that almost hides the all-inclusive beach
hotels and the distant view of untouched hills. At sunset, both the sky and sea
seem to catch fire.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic's long and varied coastline defines it as a holiday
destination: from its palm fringed beaches, fishing villages and exclusive
resorts, to its small towns and its grand capital of Santo Domingo, the sea is
ever present and the tropical heat makes those beaches so inviting. What could
be better than lying on that pristine sand with the palm trees blowing gently in
the cooling breeze? What hits you is the glorious colour — not only the intense
blue of the sea and sky, the purity of the white sand and the lush greens of the
interior rainforest, but the exuberant, brightly-coloured clothes of the people
and their cheerfully painted homes.

In a country so rich in beautiful beaches, you would be hard pressed to pick one
that was outstanding without neglecting others that shouldn't be missed, but
for those looking for a tropical paradise, a good candidate would be Bahia de
las Aguilas in the far south west. This has seven miles of pure white sand
backed by untouched countryside with not a building in sight, and is
acknowledged as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. For the best all
inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, you might pick Puerto Plata or
Punta Cana. Both have wonderful beaches and plenty to do outside the resorts.

Wherever you go, there will be fabulous hotels, water sports, offshore reefs and
idyllic little islets to explore. Take a boat trip into your own desert island
fantasy, go whale watching or scuba diving; visit the Jarabacoa waterfalls, go
hiking or horse riding in the hills, or explore some of the historic colonial
towns such as Santiago or San Cristóbal. This is an island you won't forget.

Barbados

Barbados is the jewel of the Caribbean, a small coral island of pristine beauty
that is friendly and welcoming and just waiting to be explored. The island has
over 70 miles of glorious palm-fringed, coral beaches - all open to the public
— and whether you are staying in one of the all inclusive resorts or on a
budget holiday, the sun always shines and the sea is always the bluest blue.

On the east and south coasts the Atlantic trade winds create some big surf. Huge
waves crash against the rocky shores. These beaches are ideal for surfing,
walking or sunbathing. At East Coast Road beach the waves breaking on the reefs
create a constant salty and refreshing mist in the air. The famous Soup Bowl
beach is the best surfing spot on the island, which draws surfers from around
the world.

The west coast, often called the Platinum Coast, offers a more relaxed
experience, with crystal clear waters gently lapping the white sandy beaches,
making this an ideal area for a family holiday. Sandy Lane, Paynes Bay, Brandons
Beach, Batts Rock — these and many more give you a wide choice to explore,
where the swimming is perfect and the coral sands, the palms and the tropical
sunshine guarantees a holiday to remember. Go snorkelling off the beach, swim
with sea turtles or try your hand at some water sports such as jet skiing or
scuba diving.

Visit Bridgetown, the island’s lovely capital, and sample the nightlife; or
take off and discover the island’s interior – hire a car or book a trip and
explore the hills and the small inland towns, the Barbados Wildlife Reserve or
Harrison’s Cave with its underground streams and waterfalls, or spend some
leisurely hours on one of the island’s world class golf courses.

Antigua

Antigua, the larger island of the Antigua and Barbuda twin-island nation, is one
of the most stunning in the Caribbean, where you can relax amidst lush tropical
palms, sun-soaked white sand beaches and pure blue seas. Because it is
surrounded by an unbroken protective coral reef, the sea gently laps the coast,
making the island ideal for a peaceful family beach holiday. The reef also makes
it popular amongst divers and snorkelers, who come from around the world to
enjoy this tropical underwater paradise. Other popular water sports include
wind-surfing, kayaking and kite-surfing — head to Fort James, a particularly
popular spot for getting out on the water; or go to Gallery Bay, which is
favoured by joggers and surfers.

The island has hundreds of years of history as a safe refuge for shipping, and
what once made this an important outpost for the Royal Navy in the days of sail
now makes it perfect for yachting. There are many harbours giving good shelter
from the prevailing trade winds, and the island is the venue for several annual
yacht shows and regattas.

The capital of St John's is a lively little town that retains much of its
colonial buildings as well as a very British air alongside its relaxed and
friendly Caribbean character. The white baroque cathedral of St John dominates
the town, rising above the cheerfully rainbow coloured local architecture.
Discover more about the island's colonial past with a visit to the historic
sugar cane plantations, and wind down in the evening to the cheerful calypso
beat in the many little beach bars, taste some of the wonderful seafood and
watch the sun set while downing some of the local rum, which is not to be
missed.

St Lucia

St Lucia is that ideal Caribbean island: a small, unspoilt tropical delight that
is still relatively undiscovered by the crowds. It is dominated by the twin
peaks of the Piton Mountains, which rise dramatically from the sea, soaring to a
height of 2000 feet. Dominated by lush rain forest, St Lucia has sometimes been
called a South Sea paradise island transported to the Caribbean, and it is true
that it seems very different to most of the Caribbean islands. Its culture is as
diverse as its landscape, showing British, Spanish, French, African and Indian
influences, as well as being thoroughly Caribbean. St Lucia hotels range from
the all-inclusive resorts and boutique hotels, to couples only retreats or
affordable three star hotels.

The deep inshore waters and coral reefs make this a perfect destination for
scuba divers and snorkelers. The forested, mountainous interior is perfect for
hiking. Not to forget the beaches, such as Reduit, Pigeon Island, Anse des
Pitons and Anse Chastenet — an embarrassment of unspoilt riches, with white sand
lapped by azure seas. All are open to the public and are safe for swimming.
You'll find plenty of shade, whether under the coconut palms or the
palm-thatched beach umbrellas, and there are bars and restaurants where you can
have anything from a soft drink to a cocktail, a salad to a jerk chicken or
grilled local fish.

St Lucia is ideal for anyone looking for more than a beach holiday. Visit the St
Lucia Rum Distillery, learn its colourful history and buy a bottle at factory
prices; go horse riding at the National Riding Academy; or go jungle biking, or
visit the historic garrison ruins of Pigeon Island. Wherever you go, the
dramatic landscape dominates, set off by broad views or enticing glimpses of the
sea.

Bahamas

Water and sky seem to merge in one vision of the purest blue, on which the lush
green islands and white sands of the Bahamas stand out like a vision of
paradise. These are the clearest seas in the world, and this beautiful
archipelago comprising 700 islands spread over 10,000 square miles is the most
stylish holiday destination in the Caribbean. It's also an extremely friendly
place, full of history and culture and with a rich heritage of hospitality.

With so many different islands, ranging from the largest, Grand Bahama Island,
the small island of Bimini just 60 miles from Miami, and New Providence, the
most populous, to the many tiny unpopulated islands, there are naturally a wide
range of resorts and activities for the holidaymaker. Nowhere in the entire
archipelago is higher than about 20 metres above sea level, so water sports and
beach life predominate. As the "sailing capital of the world", boarding a
yacht to explore the smaller islands and deserted beaches is almost second
nature here.

The capital, Nassau, on the north coast of New Providence, is a lively and
modern metropolitan city. The port is sheltered and protected by Paradise
Island, which has been developed as the prime resort area of the Bahamas, with
many hotels, restaurants, shops, a golf course and other places of
entertainment. Freeport, the capital of Grand Bahama, is a free trade area with
duty free shopping and all the best in the way of holiday amenities and
nightlife. Whether you spend your time here or exploring the rest of the islands
— by boat, cruise ship or helicopter — there is something for everyone.
Families with children, seekers of history and culture, gourmets, stylish
couples or fun loving singles — they all come home wishing they could soon
return.

Trinidad and Tobago

Two glorious islands like jewels set in the bluest of tropical seas: holidays to
Trinidad and Tobago are sure to please even the most experienced traveller. The
colour and excitement will grab you as soon as you get off the plane. These are
the most southerly Caribbean islands, just 20 kilometres from the coast of
Venezuela and wonderfully warm all year round. The sheer exuberance of the
landscape and climate is reflected in the people and their culture, which is a
rich combination of French, Spanish, British and African influences.

For the perfect beach holiday, there is a wide choice — from family resort
hotels in the capital of Trinidad, Port of Spain, to the prime surfing coast on
the north of the island, and secluded, white sandy beaches on Tobago. As a rule,
Trinidad is the livelier of the two islands, where you can immerse yourself in
the local life and culture, whereas Tobago, the smaller island, is quieter and
more suited to a holiday based around the beach and the sea, although
Scarborough, the capital, is still a bustling, lively town. It is small enough
to cover on foot, and you can spend a pleasant day away from the beach browsing
in the shops and markets, or checking out the bars, restaurants and historical
sites such as the 18th century Fort King George or the Tobago Museum. There are
also pretty little fishing villages, and the island's beautiful, lush interior
just invites you to explore.

At sunset, the Caribbean comes alive. Trinidad and Tobago are no exceptions.
This is the birthplace of calypso and steel bands, which are the sounds of the
night in these islands, a joyful accompaniment to the wonderful local cuisine —
and a shot of rum to finish, of course.